Asana – yoga poses for feeling well at work

To stay well and keep up your best performance at work, add some yoga routines to your day!

Your breath is always the best measure of how well you are feeling – pay attention to it! If you feel tired throughout the day, make sure you are breathing well, and to do so you must be sitting or standing up straight - avoid slouching. If you can, take a short break in fresh air. 

Whenever possible, do a mental scan to observe physical sensations and emotions in the body.  Especially when you are doing yoga postures (but ideally most of the rest of the time, too!), make sure your head is over your heart, and your heart is over your hips. Whether standing or sitting, your feet should look like this ||, rather than this \/. Root downwards to grow upwards with stability. The body can be relaxed, even when making an effort.

Easy overall stretches

Raise your arms overhead, then take your wrist with the other hand and gently pull your passive arm to one side, pressing your seat into your chair or your feet into the floor. Stay for one or several breaths, and repeat on the other side.

Interlock your fingers behind your back with palms facing each other – try to have your wrists touching.  If standing, step your feet apart with knees slightly bent (otherwise just sit forward on your chair) and fold forward from the hips, stretching your arms up behind you. Stay for a few breaths.

While standing, plant your feet firmly in the ground and swing the upper body and arms side to side, letting go completely until the arms flop around you.

For the face and eyes

Lion pose: This is a marvelous way to reduce facial tension and improve your breathing, with the added bonus of deflating the ego!

For the neck and shoulders

Nod the head up and down (yes, boss!) and side-to-side (no, sir!). Remember, the head moves at the jaw, not from the base of the neck!  The Indian head roll (means yes, no, and maybe!) – make a figure of eight with your nose and relax your neck as you roll the head.

Neck rolls: gently roll the head keeping your focus on the nose and begin spiraling outwards until the head can no longer comfortably roll, then reverse the action until the spiral shrinks back to the centre. Stay still with the eyes closed for at least one deep breath afterwards.

Cow Face Pose: This is a good one for tension between the shoulder blades. Cross one elbow over the other and then wrap your arms together until you catch the fingers of the lower arm in the other palm. Relax the shoulders.

Backstroke – swing arms backwards like a windmill; reverse after a few rounds.

For the arms, wrists and hands

Wrist rotation and flexion: With arms outstretched, roll your wrists loosely ten times in both directions, then flex and extend your wrists several times.

Elbow rotation: gently curl your fingers around your thumbs in a light fist (this is known as adi mudra, and is very soothing on its own!). Extend your arms and pull them in towards the body then back out several times.

Press the hands down onto the desk until you feel your whole arm working. Start with fingers pointing away (thumbs face each other), then towards each other (thumbs face you), then towards you (thumbs face out to the side).

For the back and abdominals

Side stretch: hold your elbows overhead and reach up as you press the heels down. Slide the elbows up and to the right, then up and to the left, without moving the hips and legs.

Whole body twist: stand with feet wide apart, knees bent. Push hands into knees with strong, straight arms. Lengthen body and let tailbone move down keeping the abdomen strong. Push into one knee as you exhale, twist body and look up past the opposite shoulder. Inhale back to centre and repeat on other side. Push into the feet to move the body up and down as you twist, working every joint.

Fierce pose (also called chair pose): stand with feet hip-width apart. Press the feet down while straightening the arms overhead. Keeping the abdomen strong, drop the tailbone and bend at the hips as though you were going to sit down. Stay in a half-squat for a few breaths. Release by standing back up as you inhale and lower the arms as you exhale.

Sitting on the edge of your chair, open the knees wide with feet firmly on the floor; roll the body forward to hang down between the legs. Slowly roll back up, deliberately keeping the abdomen strong to lift you and support your back.

Place your hands on your desk and push your chair back until you stretch into the hips and lower back. Keep the abdomen firm.

For the hips and legs

Standing on one leg, raise your knee high up, and roll your ankles – really point and flex the foot so you also feel the effects in the leg.  Repeat on the other side.

Kick one leg out in front several times, and then out to the side (happy dog!).

Breathe and smile!

Striving for improvement, without struggle

Happy New Year!

I just returned from a week-long retreat at Thich Nhat Hanh's Buddhist Monastery near Bordeaux, France, known as Plum Village. The place simply brings out the best in everyone who attends, and I can highly recommend spending some time there. It is also very family-friendly, and kids usually love it, although the periods of Noble Silence usually end up more like Noble Whispering!

I have been a couple of times on my own, and this was the third time with my children, who get to see and participate in a very different side of life from the competitive, urban buzz they are accustomed to here in Brussels.

Although my daughter and son are naturally exposed to my yogic way of life every day (they still roll their eyes at times), I deliberately never impose my choices on them (apart from the fact that I only prepare vegetarian food - I'm the chef!). So I was truly surprised and delighted when my twelve-year-old daughter announced that she wanted to practice the Five Mindfulness Trainings, which are described below using the Plum Village wording. She took her ceremonial vow to uphold the essence of each of the Trainings, along with a promise to reflect upon them regularly.

The bar is set very high in taking this step. Much like the Yamas and Niyamas (the guidelines for ethical living in yoga) of the Yoga Sutras, but based on the teachings of the Buddha, the Five Mindfulness Trainings offer an ideal way of conducting one's self in all aspects of life. I now have an in-house practice partner, which makes it easier for both of us to see where we can do our best, and where we could use some improvement.

The Trainings are difficult to follow to the letter in our society - working towards them is the point. It is worth noting, for example, that the Buddha and his followers would have accepted and eaten meat which was offered to them, but naturally would never kill animals nor prepare meat for themselves. Even the Dalai Lama, Tibet's highest Buddhist teacher and spiritual leader, eats a small amount of meat now - after a lifetime as a vegetarian - on the advice of his doctor. He regrets this, he has said, but says prayers of gratitude for the life that has been lost to feed him.

"The Five Mindfulness Trainings represent the Buddhist vision for a global spirituality and ethic. They are a concrete expression of the Buddha’s teachings on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, the path of right understanding and true love, leading to healing, transformation and happiness for ourselves and for the world. To practice the Five Mindfulness Trainings is to cultivate the insight of interbeing, or Right View, which can remove all discrimination, intolerance, anger, fear and despair. If we live according to the Five Mindfulness Trainings, we are already on the path of a bodhisattva. Knowing we are on that path, we are not lost in confusion about our life in the present or in fears about the future.

Reverence For Life

Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I am committed to cultivating the insight of interbeing and compassion and learning ways to protect the lives of people, animals, plants and minerals. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to support any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, or in my way of life.  Seeing that harmful actions arise from anger, fear, greed and intolerance, which in turn come from dualistic and discriminative thinking, I will cultivate openness, non-discrimination, and non-attachment to views in order to transform violence, fanaticism and dogmatism in myself and in the world.

True Happiness

Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing and oppression, I am committed to practicing generosity in my thinking, speaking and acting. I am determined not to steal and not to possess anything that should belong to others; and I will share my time, energy and material resources with those who are in need. I will practice looking deeply to see that the happiness and suffering of others are not separate from my own happiness and suffering; that true happiness is not possible without understanding and compassion; and that running after wealth, fame, power and sensual pleasures can bring much suffering and despair. I am aware that happiness depends on my mental attitude and not on external conditions, and that I can live happily in the present moment simply by remembering that I already have more than enough conditions to be happy. I am committed to practicing Right Livelihood so that I can help reduce the suffering of living beings on Earth and reverse the process of global warming.

True Love

Aware of the suffering caused by sexual misconduct, I am committed to cultivating responsibility and learning ways to protect the safety and integrity of individuals, couples, families, and society.  Knowing that sexual desire is not love, and that sexual activity motivated by craving always harms myself as well as others, I am determined not to engage in sexual relations without true love and a deep, long-term commitment made know to my family and friends.  I will do everything in my power to protect children from sexual abuse and to prevent couples and families from being broken by sexual misconduct.  Seeing that body and mind are one, I am committed to learning appropriate ways to take care of my sexual energy and cultivating loving kindness, compassion, joy and inclusiveness - which are the four basic elements of true love - for my greater happiness and the greater happiness of others.  Practicing true love, we know that we will continue beautifully into the future.


Loving Speech and Deep Listening

Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech and the inability to listen to others, I am committed to cultivating loving speech and compassionate listening in order to relieve suffering and to promote reconciliation and peace in myself and among other people, ethnic and religious groups, and nations.  Knowing that words can create happiness or suffering, I am committed to speaking truthfully using words that inspire confidence, joy, and hope.  When anger is manifesting in me, I am determined not to speak.  I will practice mindful breathing and walking in order to recognize and look deeply into my anger.  I know that the roots of anger can be found in my wrong perceptions and lack of understanding of the suffering in myself and in the other person. I will speak and listen in a way that can help myself and the other person to transform suffering and see the way out of difficult situations. I am determined not to spread news that I do not know to be certain and not to utter words that can cause division or discord. I will practice Right Diligence to nourish my capacity for understanding, love, joy and inclusiveness, and gradually transform anger, violence, and fear that lie deep in my consciousness.

Nourishment and Healing

Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful consumption, I am committed to cultivating good health both physical and mental, for myself, my family, and my society by practicing mindful eating, drinking and consuming. I will practice looking deeply into how I consume the Four Kinds of Nutriments, namely, edible foods, sense impressions, volition and consciousness.  I am determined not to gamble, or to use alcohol, drugs or any other products which contain toxins, such as certain websites, electronic games, TV programs, films, magazines, books and conversations.  I will practice coming back to the present moment to be in touch with the refreshing, healing and nourishing elements in me and around me, not letting regrets and sorrow drag me back into the past nor letting anxieties, fear, or craving pull me out of the present moment. I am determined not to try to cover up loneliness, anxiety, or other suffering by losing myself in consumption.  I will contemplate interbeing and consume in a way that preserves peace, joy and well-being in my body and consciousness, and in the collective body and consciousness of my family, my society and the Earth."

"Body and mind in perfect harmony, I send you my heart with the sound of this bell. That everyone who hears me emerges from forgetfulness and transcends all anxiety and pain. At the sound of the bell, I feel that the afflictions in me begin to dissolve. My mind is calm, my body relaxed. A smile is born on my lips. Concentrating on the sound of the bell, my conscious breath brings me back to my true home. In the garden of my heart, peace blossoms like a flower."

You might like to hear some talks given by Thich Nhat Hanh at Plum Village and at his teachings around the world. You can see each talk on the Plum Village Online Monastery, or look at www.plumvillage.org for more general information.

I invite you to reflect on how these principles could bring more harmony to you and others in your daily life, and - being realistic, and compassionate with yourself and others - gradually begin to adopt some of them. There is no need to struggle; nothing to be forced, and no holier-than-thou attitude to adopt. When something feels right, and it resonates with your highest principles, it will be easy and natural to work toward.

May this year bring abundant good health, joy and contentment to you and those around you.

Love and light,
Susan

Hawaiian Healing from within

Ho’oponopono originates from Hawaii. It was traditionally done as a group healing but was modified and taught as an individual practice by Morrnah Nalamaku Simeona. Morrnah was a healer and in 1983 she received a great honor by being designated as a living treasure of Hawaii. She died in 1992.

The foundational elements of the practice of Self Identity through Ho'oponopono are the four phrases:

• I love You
• I'm Sorry
• Please Forgive Me
• Thank You

The practice is ongoing, in the beginning you might only remember to do it a few minutes out of every day. Later, and as you see your outside world changing - if you recognize the connection - your practice increases. The most powerful phrases here are: “I Love You” and “Thank You”. The powers of Love and Gratitude are known in every self-empowerment teaching, school or religion.

Repeat these phrases just like a mantra and the healing process happens. You may cleanse life situations, places and relationships. When something comes to your awareness – you accept 100% responsibility for that and repeat the cleaning process. No guilt trips. No intellectualizing. No judgements. You clean. Divinity does the rest. Ho’oponopono cleaning is "letting go and letting God".

Morrnah's Prayer

Spirit, Superconscious, please locate the origin of my suffering.

Take each and every level, layer, area and aspect of my being to this origin.

Analyze it and resolve it perfectly with God's truth.

Come through all generations of time and eternity.

Healing every incident and its appendages based on the origin.

Please do it according to God's will until I am in the present,

Filled with light and truth.

God's peace and love, forgive me for my incorrect perceptions.

Forgive every person, place, circumstances and event that contributed to my suffering.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________________________________

Ideas for a Full Moon Meditation practice

“So Ham” makes the sound of the breath, the sound of nature, plus the sound of the serpent (nag), which represents the movement of energy through the body’s energy channels (nadi) – Sushumna + ida + pingala nadi = the caduceus

OM Hrim Hamsa Soham Swaha!

Mantra of higher life force (prana) and centering in the heart. 

OM - unmanifest prana, the primordial sound

HRIM - Primal sound of female energy (shakti)  

[HA = prana, RA = light, II = shakti force, M = sound of dissolution (anuswara)] 

Also a mantra of the sun and several Hindu goddesses, both purifying and rejuvenating.

HAM SA – increases solar prana – pingala – illuminating, stimulating 

SO HAM – increases lunar prana – ida – receptive, calming

SWAHA – mantra of offering, energizing, stimulating, increases fire (agni) 

                 [Swaha is the wife of Agni, God of fire]

Breathing exercise – alternate nostril breathing (nadi shodana pranayama)

                  Inhale left –                mentally chant OM

                  Exhale right –             HRIM

                  Inhale right –              HAM

                  Exhale left –               SA

                  Inhale left –                SO

                  Exhale right –             HAM

                  Inhale right –              SWA

                  Exhale left -                HA

**************

GAYATRI MANTRA
An auspicious mantra for all purposes

Om bhur bhuvah swaha

Tat savitur vare-niyam

Bhargo devasya dhimahi

Dhiyo yona prachodaya-at

OM- Parabrahma, BHUR- of Bhurloka (physical plane), BHUVAH- of Antariksha-loka (astral plane), SWAHA- of Swarga Loka (celestial plane)

TAT- who transcedents paratman, SAVITURA- who is a creator, VARENIYAM- I worship you

BHARGO- remover of sins, ignorance DEVASYA- giver of glory, DHI MAHI- we meditate,

DHIYO- with our Bhuddhis, intellect, understandings, YO-which NAH- is/us PRACHODAYAT- Enlightened in us through your guidance

Moon mantras for peace of mind

Om cham chandraya namaha – Mantra for the moon as a planet

Om som somaya namaha – Mantra to receive the essential lunar energy (soma)

Ganesh Chaturthi - An auspicious day for new beginnings!

Today we celebrate the birthday of Ganesha (“Ganesh Chaturthi”), the Lord of New Beginnings and the Remover of Obstacles - the perfect time to begin anew and set your agendas for the months ahead!  

Ganesha is the universal master of ceremonies. He is the first to be invited whenever a puja (ceremony of worship) is performed, because he is believed to bring prosperity and initiate new beginnings. So Ganesha mantras are chanted at the beginning of auspicious and spiritual events.

In India, this day is celebrated by Hindus and Muslims alike, as the message of Ganesha is universal and not religious in nature. Also known as Ganapati, he is worshipped all around Asia, and is loved and revered by Tibetans, Chinese, Thais and Japanese. Fear of the unknown is the most basic of human emotions that affect all of us, regardless of country or religion. Ganapati helps us cope with fear and anxiety, guiding us through ambivalence, bringing clarity and a fresh perspective. Ganesha resides in the first chakra, muladhara, the foundation upon which everything rests. Seated in the base of the spine, he holds, supports and guides all other chakras, thereby governing the forces that turn the wheel of life.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar beautifully explains the legend of how Ganesha became the elephant-headed God:

“Shiva and Parvati had been celebrating and Parvati became dirty. When she realizes this, she removes the dirt from her body, creates a little boy out of it and asks him to keep guard while she bathes. When Shiva returned, the boy couldn’t recognize him and obstructed his passage to protect his “mother”, Parvati. So Shiva chopped off the boy’s head and entered. Parvati was shocked. She explained that the boy was their son and pleaded with Shiva to save him at all costs. Shiva then instructed his helpers to go and get the head of someone who was sleeping with the head pointing northwards. The helpers brought the head of an elephant, which Shiva affixed to the boy’s torso and Ganesha was brought to life!

Does this story sound strange? Why should Parvati have dirt on her body? Didn’t the all-knowing Shiva recognise His own son? Was Shiva, the epitome of peace, so short-tempered that he cut off the head of his own son? And why an elephant head on Ganesha? There is a deeper meaning to all these.

Parvati is symbolic of festive energy. Her becoming dirty signifies that celebration can easily become Rajasik or feverish and can take you away from your center. Dirt is symbolic of ignorance and Shiva is symbolic of the Supreme Innocence, Peace and Knowledge. So when Ganesha obstructs the path of Shiva, this means that ignorance, which is an attribute of the head, does not recognize knowledge. Then knowledge has to overcome ignorance. This is the symbolism behind Shiva chopping off the boy’s head.

And why an elephant’s head? The elephant represents the qualities of gyan shakti and karma shakti: wisdom and effortlessness. The enormous head of the elephant signifies wisdom and knowledge. Elephants don't walk around obstacles, neither do they stop at them. They just remove them and keep walking straight on, signifying strength and determination.” So Ganesha represents human intelligence allied with the strength of an elephant.

In his book “Tantra Unveiled”, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait writes extensively on Ganesha’s significance. The word Ganesha comes from the Sanskrit words gana and isha. Gana means “individual beings, discrete bodies of Divinity, unique forces, emanations of Divine Light, attendants of the main deity”. Isha means “one who is capable of doing what he wishes, capable of refraining from what he does not wish to do, and capable of undoing what has already been done.” In other words, the Almighty Lord.

Ganesha is the locus for all that exists, and he establishes law and brings order out of chaos, causing the universal forces to function coherently.  As the centre of gravitational energy, he supervises all activities, from the microcosmic to the macrocosmic. 

The forces of creation, maintenance and destruction are held in harmonious balance by his will, which is why the firstborn child of the Divine Mother (symbolized by Parvati) is called “Ganesha”, the lord of all entities and functioning forces of the universe.

In both Vedic and Tantric scriptures, he is called Brahmanaspati: “all-pervasive lord of knowledge and intelligence”. Because he also sets the wheels of karma in motion, he is also referred to as Karma Adhyaksha, “the one who presides over karmic law”.  As the remover of obstacles, he is known as Vighnesha. 

Like fire, Ganesha (Vighnesha) consumes anything in his path with an enormous appetite. He gladly accepts any offerings we lovingly make to him – our problems and concerns are swallowed up, granting us freedom from fear and worry. Only Ganesha is capable of consuming our ignorance, egoism, attachment, aversion, and fear of death.

Ancient texts relate Ganesha with the sacred sound Om, and the curved shape of his trunk and head resembles Om as it is written in Sanskrit.  Because Om is the source of all mantras, repeating any mantra is like meditating on Ganesha. All sounds, words and mantras in their unmanifested form rest in muladhara chakra, where Ganesh resides.

So if you want to tap into the energy of Ganesha, here are some mantras you can chant aloud, or - even more powerfully - silently while meditating or as you go about your day.

Om Gum Ganapataye Namaha – Salutations to the Remover of Obstacles

Om Sri Ganeshaya Namaha - For auspicious and generous initiating energy

For more serious adepts, try 3 - 108 repetitions of the Maha (great) Ganapati Mantra daily:

Om Shrim Hrim Klim Glaum Gum Ganapataye

Vara Varada Sarva Janam Me

Vasha-manaya Swaha

 - "May the abundance-producing Great Remover of Obstacles that transcends this apparent reality bring all things that concern me under my control."

I wish you many blessings and the strength and forbearance of Ganesha in the months ahead!

Jai Ganesh!

Further reading about the Chakras

Look at my downloads page to find recordings of previous chakra workshops!

Below is a list of books and audio that I can recommend for learning more about the vast subject of the chakras. There are so many books on the subject now that it boggles the mind, but much of what is out there is shallow and following a commercial trend, so I have limited this list strictly to the books I think are most practical. I have given them a five-star rating according to my personal appreciation of them, based on their level of practical application and, of course, quality of information.  Click on the title for a direct link to Amazon.com

 The Chakra Bible: The Definitive Guide to Chakra Energy - by Patricia Mercier  - **** This is an excellent book to start with, as it gives an overview of nearly all aspects of the Chakras. Not much depth, but useful for quick reference, and take the word "definitive guide" with a grain of salt...

Energy Anatomy - by Caroline Myss - ***** Recorded workshops - A really useful look at how to understand the chakras and apply that to your life - very practical as a guide for personal transformation - tough love!
  
Advanced Energy Anatomy - by Caroline Myss - ***** Another great series of talks, this time adding a lot of information about Archetypes into the mix.

The Subtle Body, by Cyndi Dale - **** This book gives a great overview of all the major energy systems and traditions, with a section on the chakras.

The Book of Chakras: Discover the Hidden Forces Within You - by Ambika Wauters - **** A really good look at the symbolism and meaning of the chakras on many levels, making it a good basic reference guide.

Chakras and Their Archetypes: Uniting Energy Awareness and Spiritual Growth  - by Ambika Wauters - *** A useful in-depth look at how the different archetypal energies are reflected in the chakras.

Chakra Balancing- by Anodea Judith - **** Workbook and CD are provided in this practical kit for working with issues in your own life through the chakras.

The Chakra System - by Anodea Judith - ***1/2  An audiobook read by the author explaining her understanding of the chakras through 30 years of working with them.

Wheels of Life: A User's Guide to the Chakra System (Llewellyn's New Age Series) - by Anodea Judith - *** Somewhat more esoteric that the rest, but worthwhile.

Eastern Body, Western Mind: Psychology and the Chakra System As a Path to the Self - by Anodea Judith - *** Interesting look at the psychology behind the chakras.

The Sevenfold Journey: Reclaiming Mind, Body and Spirit Through the Chakras - by Anodea Judith and Selene Vega - *** Theory and practical exercises for personal transformation.

Chakras: Energy Centers of Transformation - by Harish Johari - **** Provides the traditional Hindu understanding of the chakras, somewhat esoteric - not for casual interest!

Chakra Yoga: Balancing Energy for Physical, Spiritual, and Mental Well-being - by Alan Finger -**** A good way to integrate the concept of the chakras into a hatha yoga practice, by a lovely teacher.

Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth: Book 2 - by Peter Kelder - **** I recommend book two as it covers the same basic info about the Five Tibetan Rites as book one, plus it has good advice on breathing and health issues.

The Five Tibetans: Five Dynamic Exercises for Health, Energy, and Personal Power - by Christopher Kilham - **** A good guide to the Five Tibetan Rites with an explanation of the chakras and how they are affected by the sequence.

Om Namo Shivaya!

A balanced view of the current debate on who "owns" yoga

Yoga, as it is practiced now, is a mix of several techniques, including some Western ones, a historian has said.

Meera Nanda, visiting professor of history of science at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali, says for most Indians, yoga is a living symbol of their way of life, like apple pie is to Americans. But, she adds, they are unaware that the yoga of today can't claim Vedic antiquity.

In an article in Open magazine, she writes: "Lately, Hindus in America have started flying the saffron flag over American-style yoga, which consists largely of yogic asanas and stretches. The leading Indo-American lobby, Hindu American Foundation (HAF), has recently started a vocal campaign to remind Americans that yoga was made in India by Hindus… The purist Hindu position, articulated by the HAF, is that all yoga, including its physical or hatha yoga component, is rooted in the Hindu religion/way of life that goes all the way back to the Vedic sages and yogis."

In Nanda's words: "There is only one problem with this purist history of yoga: it is false. Yogic asanas were never ‘Vedic’ to begin with. Far from being considered the crown jewel of Hinduism, yogic asanas were in fact looked down upon by Hindu intellectuals and reformers—including the great Swami Vivekananda—as fit only for sorcerers, fakirs and jogis."

She says Western gymnastics and body-building techniques show up in the world-renowned Iyengar and Ashtanga Vinyasa schools of yoga.

"Far from honestly acknowledging the Western contributions to modern yoga, we Indians simply brand all yoga as ‘Vedic,’ a smug claim that has no intellectual integrity," she writes.      

She disputes the 'Take Back Yoga' movement, and says "Yoga is to North America what McDonald’s is to India: both are foreign implants gone native."

Nanda says, "By and large, the US yoga industry does not hide the origins of what it teaches. On the contrary, in a country that is so young and so constantly in flux, yoga’s presumed antiquity (‘the 5,000-year-old exercise system’, etcetera.) and its connections with Eastern spirituality have become part of the sales pitch."

Following articles and blog posts appearing in The New York Times and The Washington Post, HAF’s Shukla and New Age guru Deepak Chopra got into a spat. Shukla complained the yoga industry wasn't giving credit to Hinduism, and called Chopra a "philosophical profiteer", while Chopra argued that yoga existed in "consciousness and consciousness alone" much before Hinduism.

Nanda describes both views as "equally fundamentalist". She explains: "The reality is that postural yoga, as we know it in the 21st century, is neither eternal nor synonymous with the Vedas or Yoga Sutras. On the contrary, modern yoga was born in the late 19th/early 20th centuries. It is a child of the Hindu Renaissance and Indian nationalism, in which Western ideas about science, evolution eugenics, health and physical fitness played as crucial a role as the ‘mother tradition’."

By her reckoning, "the physical aspects of yoga were hybridised with drills, gymnastics and body-building techniques borrowed from Sweden, Denmark, England, the United States and other Western countries."

Nanda writes: "Contrary to the widespread impression, the vast majority of asanas taught by modern yoga gurus are not described anywhere in ancient sacred Hindu texts. Anyone who goes looking for references to popular yoga techniques like pranayam, neti, kapalbhati or suryanamaskar in classical Vedic literature will be sorely disappointed…. The four Vedas have no mention of yoga….The Upanishads and The Bhagvad Gita do, but primarily as a spiritual technique to purify the atman."
Nanda says BKS Iyengar’s Light on Yoga alone teaches 200 asanas, while the 14th century Hatha Yoga Pradipika lists only 15 asanas, as do the 17th century Gheranda Samhita and Shiva Samhita.

She also credits the Mysore palace under Krishnaraja Wodiyar IV (1884-1940) for the popular revival of yoga in India. She recalls: "The Maharaja, who ruled the state and the city of Mysore from 1902 till his death, was well known as a great promoter of Indian culture and religion. But he was also a great cultural innovator, who welcomed positive innovations from the West, incorporating them into his social programmes. Promoting physical education was one of his passions, and under his reign, Mysore became the hub of a physical culture revival in the country."

She concludes: "The HAF’s shrill claims about Westerners stealing yoga completely gloss over the tremendous amount of cross-breeding and hybridisation that has given birth to yoga as we know it. Indeed, contemporary yoga is a unique example of a truly global innovation, in which Eastern and Western practices merged to produce something that is valued and cherished around the world… Hinduism, whether ancient, medieval or modern, has no special claims on 21st century postural yoga. To assert otherwise is churlish and simply untrue."

From Yahoo! India News